These six power viruses can kill your productivity. Immunize your system with POWERVAR protection.

You've heard about the dangers of software viruses. But did you know that power viruses can do just as much damage to your system? And that a typical facility experiences as many as 6,000 power viruses or more, every year?

Some of these power disturbances are obvious, some are almost unnoticeable, but they all cause problems that can seriously damage your productivity, from lost data and lock-ups to communications errors and hardware failures.

Fortunately, whatever types of power viruses your system is exposed to, you can immunize yourself with complete power protection from POWERVAR.

		High-Voltage Surges Power surges can send your expensive computers and other electronic equipment to the dumpster. Surges can contain substantial amounts of energy, causing outright catastrophic component failure. Some surges contain smaller energy levels that erode components microscopically, leaving them in a weakened state. Surges are addressed with a surge diverter (A) — a device that diverts excessive voltages away from the system by shunting them to ground. Although the surge diverter protects against these major power surges, transient voltages smaller than 250– 300 volts usually slip by the surge diverter, causing equipment to be exposed to degrading energy spikes over the long term.
		Common-Mode Voltage Surge diverters (as well as noise filters) shunt disturbance energy to ground, resulting in a neutral-to-ground (common-mode) voltage — a situation that’s highly disruptive to digital and microprocessor-based technologies. The low-impedance isolation transformer (B) provides a mechanism for bonding the electrical neutral to the ground in a way that is acceptable to electrical codes. This enhances the operation of surge diverters and noise filters because the transformer bond prevents the formation of neutral to ground voltage. The isolation transformer also acts as an excellent “cushion” against power disturbances in general.
		Electrical Noise Power line noise filters (C) address the disturbances that slip by the surge diverter along with the low-amplitude, high-frequency noise that the surge diverter is not designed to handle. Typically these disturbances are caused by nearby electrical “neighbors” such as lighting ballasts, appliances, motors, electrical HVAC controls, and even other computer power supplies. Not only can noise wear away electronic components, it can also interfere with the reliable operation of digital circuits. Like surge diverters, noise filters shunt power disturbances to ground.
		Voltage Swells And Sags Swells and sags can originate outside of a facility but can also be created by equipment used inside the facility. For some electronic equipment with older, linear power supply technology, well-regulated voltage is critical to proper performance. Fortunately, most equipment uses newer-style switched mode power supplies, which are largely immune to voltage irregularities. The need for voltage regulation is infrequent, but when necessary, voltage swells and sags are eliminated with a voltage regulator (D). Various regulation technologies are available, and careful consideration is necessary to select the one that’s best suited for the application.
		Power Outages If power outages are the problem, an uninterruptible power supply [UPS] (E) will be the answer. A UPS converts DC energy stored in batteries into AC energy to power the electronic load temporarily. All UPS products are not equal. Some UPS products are online and others are standby, and some have true sine wave outputs and others have square wave or modified square wave outputs. Some units provide power conditioning and most do not. POWERVAR UPM products provide conditioned, sine wave, AC power — the kind your equipment was designed to use..
		Unstable AC Frequency AC power in North America is generated at a frequency of 60 Hz, while in Europe and many other locales, AC power is generated at 50 Hz. In developing countries, or where power is sourced from an electrical generator, the frequency may not always be stable. In such cases, a frequency regulator (F) is required. An online UPS or AC inverter is one answer for ensuring stable-frequency AC power for predictable equipment performance.
		Ground Loops When electronic systems are connected into a network, multiple branch electrical circuits are involved in powering the various network components. Along with these different circuits come different safety ground impedances. The result is the formation of “ground loops” in which noise currents flow in the loops created by the grounding and shielding conductors of the signal cables used to connect the network. These loop currents cause communication errors and data packet collisions. Large loop currents will easily destroy the communication drivers on interface cards. For many years, the only solution for addressing ground loop issues was the dedicated-isolated electrical circuit. POWERVAR’s Ground Guard technology (G) is highly effective in preventing the formation of ground loops and eliminating the need for special dedicated-isolated electrical circuits.
		Voltage Spikes And Impulses Like electrical noise, this virus is also spread by equipment inside your facility. When elevators, motors or air conditioners stop and start, they can cause sudden large increases in voltage inside the electrical system. Other causes include electric utility switching and lightning strikes (which can cause transients so intense they literally "blow up" sensitive electronics). Unlike surge diverters, which can only slow down or weaken this virus, a POWERVAR system stops it dead by giving you complete protection from small and large transients.
		Voltage Regulation In the past, unregulated voltages wreaked havoc with linear power supplies, making it hard for computer-based equipment to function. Failures were common. But thanks to the switch-mode supplies used in today's computers, today's systems have developed their own immunity to voltage regulation viruses. (This immunity is a by-product of the same technology that makes switch mode supplies smaller and more economical.)
		Blackouts Although they're the most visible—and memorable—of power viruses, blackouts account for comparatively few power disturbances each year. An uninterruptible power supply (or UPS) will keep your system up and running during a blackout, but it won't immunize against the other power viruses. That's why we've made sure POWERVAR systems are compatible with all types of UPS systems—so you can have full immunity, all the time.
		Backdoor Disturbances This virus infects your system via a pathway you'd least expect: the backdoor. Even though it's not an AC power connection, damaging electrical disturbances can enter electronic systems through modem and phone lines, network connections, and I/O cables. Fiber optic connections are one means of protection, but if your system uses ordinary communications wiring and connections, you need to immunize it against this often unrecognized but very dangerous virus. Once again, POWERVAR is your source for complete protection.